Please help me to choose a 4G data provider

[anguilla1980]

I live in the USA (California) and I've purchased an Android mobile device that needs data only. I'd prefer a pre-paid SIM & data plan.

The cellular supported frequencies listed by the device manufacturer are as follows:

GSM： B3(1800)/B8(900)

WCDMA ： B1(2100)/B8(900)

LTE FDD ：B1(2100)/B3(1800)

LTE TDD： B38(2600)/B40(2300)/B41(2600)

I don't know the difference between LTE FDD vs TDD and when looking online, I see conflicting info saying for example that 2100 is Band 4 and Band 1 depending on the resource. Or that 2600 is Band 7 and Band 38. It's so confusing.

Can you guys help an old guy who is not an RF engineer out? What carrier should I go with for the fastest supported LTE coverage?

FYI: I tried the AT&T SIM from my cell phone and after more than 30 mins and 3 reboots no network was found, so that seems to rule out AT&T.

Thanks!!

 

[joeldf]

Any chance you can tell us what the manufacturer of the phone is, and what the model number is?

The reason the AT&T SIM didn't work is that AT&T does not work on the bands you listed. And really, neither does any other US carrier.

From the bands you list that your phone supports, it appears to be a phone made for the China or Indian market. Not for the US, or generally, the North American market at all.

 

[anguilla1980]

It's an Android rearview mirror made by Ekleva, model D50. They don't make them for different markets per se that I could find as they all appear to be advertised as supporting the same bands. I just figured I would roll the dice.

Thanks for the help.

 

[joeldf]

Ah. I was thinking it was a phone. "Mobile device" without any other context just says "phone" to me. Sorry about that.

Someone else will have to chime in. I have no experience trying to get non-phone devices hooked up with a carrier. I can only assume they need to know what the device is ahead of time.

But, I still think band support will be an issue.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! I agree, none of the US carriers uses any of those 4G (or 3G) bands. If the device supports wi-fi, then your best bet might be to use a portable hotspot (either your phone or a standalone hotspot) and connect the mirror using wi-fi.